# Agency, Fractional CMO or In-House? ERP Partners Should an ERP or NetSuite partner use a specialist agency, a fractional CMO or an in-house marketer? When each one fits, what to ask, and what we charge. Source: https://artifexa.co.uk/insights/agency-cmo-or-in-house-erp-partner/ --- Home / Insights / Choosing a supplier Entry 23 of 26· 6 min read ## Agency, fractional CMO or in-house: who should run marketing for an ERP partner? When each option fits, the questions to ask, and when we are not the right choice. By Matthew Hillman Published 20 October 2026 For consultancies Request a free review **Declared interest.** We are a specialist marketing company for NetSuite and ERP partners, so we have an interest. We say below when another option is the better choice. ### Start with the gap, not the option It depends on what is missing. If you lack direction, a fractional CMO. If you have direction but no one to do the work, a specialist delivery service or agency. If marketing is constant and you can manage it, an in-house hire. In our work with small ERP partners, delivery capacity is usually the first gap, and that is the gap Artifexa fills. These are the three questions we would ask before suggesting anything: - Do you know who you sell to and why they choose you? - Is anyone producing and publishing the work every month? - Can someone senior review it in a busy month? The answers usually point to one option more clearly than any comparison table. Start the free 3-minute Enquiry Leak Finder Request a free Visibility Review ### When a fractional CMO fits A fractional CMO fits when strategy, positioning and leadership are what is missing. Check whether their agreed scope includes producing the work. If it does not, you will need to fund delivery separately. The thing to watch is who does the work after the strategy is set. A clear plan with nobody to carry it out tends to sit in a folder. For the full comparison with our service, see [Marketing Ops vs a fractional CMO](https://artifexa.co.uk/insights/marketing-ops-vs-fractional-cmo/). ### When an in-house marketer fits An in-house hire fits when there is a steady, high volume of work, and someone has the time to manage that person and cover their holidays. The things to watch: a single generalist may not know how ERP buyers choose a partner, and when they leave, the knowledge and the momentum often leave with them. ### When an agency or specialist service fits An agency or specialist service fits when you know roughly what you want, and you need it delivered and implemented. Generalist or specialist is the next choice. A generalist agency can be strong on design and search. Check whether they understand ERP buyers, and how much of your consultants’ time they will need to get there. More on this in [Marketing Ops vs a marketing agency](https://artifexa.co.uk/insights/marketing-ops-vs-marketing-agency/) and [marketing that survives a busy month](https://artifexa.co.uk/insights/marketing-that-survives-a-busy-month/). "We're a world class NetSuite consultancy, so we're a hard client to please. We know good build quality when we see it. Artifexa built our site including the OneSupport tiers and pricing model, and turned them into calculators that qualify prospects before they reach us. If you're a NetSuite or ERP firm looking for an agency that understands what you actually sell then Artifexa is the one I'd send you to." **Peter Lewis**, Managing Director, Next Layer Consulting. Declared interest: Next Layer Consulting is a NetSuite consultancy and also resells Artifexa build packages. This covers website and pricing-calculator build work, not a Marketing Ops engagement. [Read the Next Layer story](https://artifexa.co.uk/case-studies/next-layer-consulting/). ### Questions to ask any option - How many delivery days, or hours, does the fee buy? - Who implements changes on your website? - What is the minimum term and notice? - What will be reported, and what will they say they could not measure? - How much of your consultants’ time will they need? ### What we charge, for comparison Our published prices only, as on [Engagements](https://artifexa.co.uk/engagements/). We do not estimate what the other options cost. - **Visibility Review:** free. - **Foundation:** from £750 one-off. - **AI Visibility Sprint:** £1,950 fixed, for the top 15 fixes from your review. - **Pilot:** £3,500 for one scoped month of Thrive, with 5 whole-service days. - **Growth:** £2,600 / calendar month. - **Thrive:** £3,500 / month. - **Thrive Plus:** £7,000 / month. - **Lead:** from £9,500 / month. For what sits behind each figure, see [what marketing costs a NetSuite partner in the UK](https://artifexa.co.uk/insights/netsuite-partner-marketing-cost/). ### When we are not the right choice - You need a full-time leader in the building. - You want a large paid-media or events programme run at scale. Social posts and email campaigns are optional add-ons, scoped separately. If we are not a fit, the Visibility Review says so, and you keep the plan. Start the free 3-minute Enquiry Leak Finder Request a free Visibility Review Basis for this piece Our published Engagements prices and our own work with NetSuite and ERP partners. Other options are described by type only, with no estimated costs. ← All insights In this entry - ¶01Start with the gap, not the option - ¶02When a fractional CMO fits - ¶03When an in-house marketer fits - ¶04When an agency or specialist service fits - ¶05Questions to ask any option - ¶06What we charge, for comparison - ¶07When we are not the right choice Next entry · 24 The 10 checks we run first on every ERP partner site → Asked and answered ### Your questions. Can we combine a fractional CMO with a specialist service?[+][−] Yes. Strategy from one, delivery from the other, provided someone owns approvals. We have one junior marketer. Do we need more?[+][−] In our experience, they often need direction and specialist support more than replacing. The Visibility Review looks at your site, not your team, so we would discuss staffing separately. How quickly can we start?[+][−] With the free Visibility Review. Paid work starts after scope, fees and approvals are agreed. Before you hire anyone ### Know what to fix first. Get a free written review of your website and visibility, with a prioritised plan to keep. Agreed implementation starts from £750. Need ongoing support? See [Marketing Ops for NetSuite and ERP partners](https://artifexa.co.uk/netsuite-partner-marketing-ops/) and [plans and prices](https://artifexa.co.uk/engagements/). Request the free review Ask a question first Review delivered Within four working days Once scope and required information are confirmed. Findings include evidence and limits. --- Artifexa runs marketing operations for NetSuite and ERP partners and referral-led specialist consultancies, from Swindon, Wiltshire. Full machine-readable summary: https://artifexa.co.uk/llms.txt